Tips for How to Succeed in Online Classes – Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself

Argosy University, Online Programs
provides the benefit of 24/7 access to virtual classrooms. You can
study when you have time, and you have a community of other online
students to help you
through challenges. But what can you do to keep yourself motivated and
moving forward when you’re not in front of the computer? Fastweb’s
Madison Sheldrake recently published
strategies for succeeding in online courses, and the long and short
of it is—you need to stay focused and remember to commend yourself for a
job well done.

A quick overview of the article’s tips for taking online classes include:

· Familiarizing yourself with the program and its requirements

Creating a schedule

Reward the small successes

Reading instructions early

Don’t procrastinate

Make your textbook your new best friend

Celebrate your accomplishment

It seems that one of the biggest stumbles an online student can make
is to complete background “homework” before class even starts. Take the
time to learn
about your program and classes and what is expected of you. Practice
using the online system—the better you understand it, the more
efficient you’ll be
when you use it. And review big picture items. Are there any
requirements outside of the virtual classroom? Anything you need to
complete before the class
even starts? Are there long-term projects that you need to start now
even though they aren’t due until the end of the semester?

Once you read through the course syllabus, take the time to plot out
what is due and when. Plot out times each day when you will study and
include them on
your calendar. And include times when you give yourself a little
“well done” bonus for accomplishing your course goals. This can be
something as small as
an ice cream sundae, but it will motivate you to do well and stay on
track.

The Fastweb
article does give one tip that may seem a
bit “old school”—using textbooks to help with research. Because some
online courses refer directly to a particular class textbook, finding
applicable or
matching information online can be difficult—or impossible.
Information that is contained in one chapter of a class-required
textbook may be spread over
many online sites. Use your time efficiently and refer to the class
textbook when needed.

After you’ve checked off your list of accomplished goals—including
not procrastinating on assignments—it’s time for a real treat. Not just
ice cream, but
something more substantial that truly celebrates the work you’ve
done. This reward system not only encourages you now, but can keep you
going into the
future as you pursue additional classes.